TEHRAN – Iran has launched an e-visa system for Pakistani citizens in orderto facilitate their travels through abolishing old-fashioned paper visas.
E-visas will be issued for Pakistani citizens by Iranian consulates in four[Pakistani] provinces and the Iranian embassy based in Islamabad, UrduPoint reported on Monday.
The main purpose of issuing e-visa for Pakistani citizens is to ensure moreconvenient and speedy traveling facilities to active workers in tourismindustry, commercial activities and trade, the news website quoted Iranianembassy sources as saying.
“The Iranian consulates based in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta haveworked day and night to ease visa issuance process for pilgrims during theyear, while last year Iranian embassies and consulates have issued millionsof visas for Pakistani citizens.”
Some 150,000 Pakistani pilgrims annually visit Iran, Tasnim reported.
Earlier in June, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani issued an order for thewaiver of physical stamping on travelers’ passports upon entering orleaving the country.
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The decision is deemed to facilitate travels to the country without fear ofpossible U.S. penalties as last year Washington announced those travelerswho would visit certain countries including Iran would face restrictions toenter the U.S.
In November 2017, the Islamic Republic started a pilot project in a selectof its airports, issuing electronic visas — without any entry or exitstamps — for those traveling to the country, in a bid to facilitatetourist inflow and to cope with sanctions reimposed by the U.S.
Iran welcomed some 7.8 million foreign nationals last year, which shows a52.5 percent increase year on year. According to a report by the WorldTravel & Tourism Council, Iraq was the main source of tourism for Iran in2018, as Iraqis constituted 24% of all inbound visitors. Other majorsources were Azerbaijan (17%), Turkey (8%), Pakistan (4%) and Bahrain (2%).The remaining 46% came from the rest of the world.
